I discovered liquid Castile soap a number of years ago. This happened after I decided to overhaul my lifestyle.
This included upgrading my diet. To healthy real food, instead of junk.
Our house was overhauled as well. We got rid of nasty chemical cleaners, and replaced them with natural plant based alternatives, including liquid Castile soap.
The good news is that natural cleaners work just as well as chemicals.
Castile soap has so many uses, ranging from washing your floors to personal care. You can even use it to do your dishes. (Here’s a recipe for homemade dish soap. This recipe is designed to stretch a bottle of non-toxic liquid soap.)
Or you can use liquid Castile soap as a non-toxic body wash.
10 Amazing Liquid Castile Soap Uses
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On this page I’m going to include liquid black soap. Technically, black soap is not Castile. But it is non-toxic. It can be used the same way. Castile soap has an olive oil base. Black soap is made from various African plants that are roasted. That’s why it has a brownish-black color.
Castile soap has so many uses. Black soap does too. It also has the advantage of being really mild. So it’s good for personal care or if you have sensitive skin.
I first started buying natural liquid Castile soap, instead of black soap. Then I tried black soap. I fell in love with it. People with sensitive skin may want to use black soap instead of Castile soap.
Or they may want to use Castile with lavender essential oil instead of peppermint essential oil. Lavender oil is very soothing, and seems to have a natural affinity for the skin.
Castile Soap Uses and Benefits
Castile soap has so many potential uses. Especially if you want to avoid toxic chemicals. Many personal care products contain a nasty assortment of sulfates, parabens and phthalates.
Sulfates are very harsh. They can strip your hair and skin of oils. Concerns have been raised that sulfates can cause hair loss, because they can do a number on your hair.
I couldn’t find a definitive study proving this. However, it is known that SLS is harsh and potentially irritating. You certainly don’t want to irritate your scalp if you’re going for a head of healthy hair.
Castile soap and black soap are pretty mild. They contain no sulfates. So they can be used to wash your hair. However, I’d still probably not use the peppermint version for hair washing.
Anyway, are 10 Amazing uses of liquid Castile soap. (You can substitute liquid black soap for any of these uses.)
Non toxic liquid soap, along with essential oils, form the backbone of my green living program. These natural products are what help me avoid chemicals.
Liquid Castile Soap Body Wash
Liquid Castile soap makes a great body wash. However, peppermint Castile soap is very strong. I like its strength. Especially for cleaning. But it might be too strong her personal care.
So, if you plan to use Castile soap in the shower, I’d I’d recommend getting either lavender Liquid Castile soap or using black soap instead.
Liquid Castile soap with peppermint essential oil, however, makes a great non-toxic shower cleaner. (More information on this below.)
Castile Soap for Acne
Lavender essential oil is considered a good skin remedy. It’s very soothing and has a history of being used with success as a burn remedy. It’s often added to liquid Castile soap.
One of my children had teenage acne. This cleared up a lot when she used Dr. Bronner liquid Castile soap with lavender. I assume she would have seen the same results with another brand. I now buy Dr. Woods because it’s more affordable than Dr. Bronner.
But just for the sake of accuracy, my child used Dr. Bronner lavender Castile soap. That was the brand I was using at the time. But I definitely prefer Dr. Woods, and that’s the brand we use now.
I also get my liquid soaps from Vitacost. Because this large online health food store has the best price I’ve found anywhere on Dr. Woods liquid soap.
Castile Soap Benefits for Hair
Many commercial shampoos are harsh. They contain sulfates, which can damage the hair. They may also contain other chemicals you probably want to avoid. This includes parabens. Parabens are added to many beauty products. But because they mimic estrogen, there’s some concern they can fuel hormone-dependent cancers.
Truly natural shampoos made just from plant-based ingredients are expensive. So if you’re looking for a really natural way to wash your hair, you may want to consider liquid Castile soap.
However, I’d use either lavender Castile soap or black soap. Not peppermint soap on my hair.
I don’t use Castile soap as shampoo. But I know some people do.
Lavender Castile Soap for Fleas
In our house we use only natural flea control. Essential oils are our “go to” flea remedy. Instead of chemicals, we’ve used natural essential oils on our dog’s collar. Because they’re derived from plants, some aromatic oils can work as natural pesticides.
Our dog is now 16 1/2. This is very old for a Cocker Spaniel. So I like to think that a chemical-free lifestyle has contributed to his longevity.
Lavender essential oils is one aromatic that’s considered okay to use on dogs. However, I’m not a vet, or an animal healthcare expert. So once you get clearance from your vet, you can use it on your pet. Never use essential oils on a young puppy or on a pregnant female. Or on a cat. That’s because cats lack an enzyme needed to metabolize aromatic plant extracts.
You can find liquid Castile soap with various types of essential oils added. They’re a small part of the formula. But they do add scent and can be used as part of a natural flea control program.
For dogs I would recommend liquid Castile soap with lavender essential oil, instead of peppermint oil. Because lavender is so soothing and gentle.
Castile soap is best used when bathing your dog. Put a half cup in a tub full of water for a dog wash. Make sure to avoid the eyes. Rinse thoroughly.
Castile Soap Laundry Detergent
It’s possible to use straight Castile soap to clean your clothes, instead of laundry detergent. It’s a very safe and non toxic way to do your laundry. However, it’s also cost prohibitive. A 32-ounce bottle of non-toxic liquid soap costs about $10 where I shop, on Vitacost. You can pay a lot more for liquid Castile soap if you shop elsewhere.
Anyway, I prefer to wash my clothes with DIY powdered laundry detergent or soap nuts. But if you prefer non toxic liquid laundry detergent, here’s a recipe from Brendid’s site.
Castile Soap Floor Cleaner
Castile soap with either lavender or peppermint essential oil works great on floors. Add 1/8 cup to a bucket of warm water and then use a mop. I think peppermint is especially good for kitchen floors because ants and other pests hate the smell of peppermint.
It doesn’t take much peppermint scent to drive repel them either. We rarely find ants in our kitchen nowadays. Before they used to be frequent visitors.
But every now and then I put a couple of drops of peppermint essential oil directly on my kitchen sponge. I use it to wipe down my kitchen counters. I’ve been doing this every now and then, for a few years. We no longer see many ants.
Castile Soap for Hardwood Floors
I’ve made a DIY floor cleaner with non-toxic liquid soap and water. You can also add a few drops of lavender essential oil. Lavender oil is a very soothing skin remedy and hardwood floors seem to like it as well.
For this project, I’d highly recommend using lavender Castile soap, as opposed to peppermint. You can also add a few extra drops of lavender oil. If you use liquid black soap you can also use lavender essential oil.
Do a test run on a small patch of floor first, before using this on your entire floor. Make sure that it doesn’t damage your hardwood finish.
Castile Soap for Baby
I found a great recipe for foaming Castile baby soap. Thanks to Mama Instincts, who posted this on her site. This recipe is made with liquid Castile soap and organic coconut milk. I’d definitely use lavender liquid soap or black soap on a baby, instead of peppermint soap.
The brand I use would be far too strong for a baby. Also, peppermint essential oil itself is considered too strong to use in children younger than age 10.
Make sure to do a little test patch with this soap first. Make sure your baby is not allergic to coconut milk. Otherwise, enjoy the non-toxic lather.
Castile Soap to Clean Shower
I’ve used Castile soap and black soap for cleaning the scum and mold that builds up in your shower. Both options work. But the one that works best is liquid Castile soap with peppermint essential oil.
I put a small amount of liquid soap a stiff bristle plastic brush and the grime comes right off. Liquid soap is a much better option than toxic chemical cleaners.
Castile Soap to Clean Toothbrushes
Castile and black soap are non toxic. So you can use them to clean toothbrushes. For quick cleaning I just put a little bit of liquid soap on the toothbrush and wash it. Then I rinse it well before using it.
You can also soak dirty toothbrushes in a glass of warm water with a teaspoon of liquid Castile or non-toxic black soap added. Rinse them well before using.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils unless directed to do so by a healthcare professional.
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